ABCs of Recovery

[majestyjo]

V is for Victory. Victory over our disease, one day at a time. Just for today, I choose not to use. There is victory when we turn things over to the God of our understanding.

[majestyjo]

W is for Willing. Often we have to pray for the willingness to be willing. H.O.W. the program wprks, honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness.

We have to be willing to go to any length to maintain our sobriety.

[majestyjo]

X is for Xenophobia. A fear of strangers and aliens. We often feel like that when we come into recovery. After working the Steps, we start to feel human.

[majestyjo]

Y is for Yellow. Yellow is the sign of caution. Remember to do the do things, they keep you from slipping back into old patterns and behaviors. They say you are Yellow if you don''t have Courage. We get our courage from our Higher Power. In and of ourself, we can not always move forward and make the changes necessary for sobriety.

[majestyjo]

Z is for Zero. When our score card read zero, we had tried everything else, we came to AA. It was through the 12 Promises that I found hope. I hung onn and went along for the ride. What a wonderful journey it has been.

[majestyjo]

A is for Awareness. We can't change something if we aren't aware that there is something wrong. That is why we do a Step 4. We need to take an inventory of what is there, and it makes us aware of what needs to go and what needs to be nurtured and embraced.

[majestyjo]

B is for Blessings. When we walk with our Higher Power, it is amazing at how many blessing abound. When you are aware of His Presence, you become aware of how He is working in your life.

[majestyjo]

C is for Caretaking. It is okay to be a caretaker as long as your remember to top up yourself first. We can't help others, if we don't take care of ourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

[caressa222]

V is for Vision. We can build up a vision of where we want to be in our recovery. We can't expect a quick fix, it doesn't happen that way. We need to take little steps, and as we learn to work our program, we will see that we are much closer than we think. It does take change, so I had to step up and embrace it.

[caressa222]

W is for Win. To stay sober for one day, is a win, win situation. Before you know it the days add up into months and years. As the saying goes, you can't win for losing. We don't want to lose our way, we need to stick with the winners, those who are staying clean and sober and have found a new way of life.

[majestyjo]

X is for x-ray. If we take an x-ray of ourselves we can see what is going on inside physically, too made we couldn't to this emotionally and spiritually. With meditation, I think it can be done if we are honest with ourselves. So often we see what we don't want to see and turn a blind eye and pull on the blanket of denial. If we don't meet our eXpectations of where we think we should be in our recovery, it is another opportunity to mark a big red X against ourselves and a chance to beat ourselves up.

[majestyjo]

Y is for Yet. When we compare instead of identifying, we say, "I haven't done that." This is a progressive disease, give yourself some time, and you will find yourself doing things you would think you would never do. Our principles go out the window as our disease takes over our life. It is a disease of progression and it is no respecter of persons, son and old.

[caressa222]

Z is for Zero. When our score card read Zero, we came to AA. When we had tried everything else, we finally took off the blanket of denial, and came to see what AA had to offer us. We are promised a new freedom and a new happiness. When I heard that, I didn't want to leave, even though I didn't think I was an alcoholic. I figured if I just kept coming, I would find out what they had and steal it for myself. Little did I know of the many blessings there were for me and so much more.